Cameron White - 74 from 45 balls
The experienced Aussie has long been a part of the IPL set-up but until very recently had yet to score a 50 in the tournament, now he has 2 in 3 matches (both against Pune) and all of a sudden looks the batsman he once was. He came in to face the 2nd ball of the innings today, with Parthiv sent back first up, and so had plenty of time to play himself in, perhaps this promotion up the order was exactly what he needed. The fearsome striking of old has returned and he looks so strong when lofting down the ground. The medium pace of Ganguly in the 18th over (it remains a mystery as to why he bowled himself) was carted over the mid wicket boundary for 3 successive sixes and his late burst, alongside Sangakarra, put Deccan well out of Pune's reach on a tough wicket. However, Uthappa did drop a fairly simple chance from White early on and this proved to be decisive, the score would certainly not have reached 186 had he clung on.
Kumar Sangakarra - 82 from 52 balls and MoM
Having dropped himself in their last encounter, Deccan's skipper was under plenty of pressure when he came to the crease early on with his side in trouble at 23/2. Sangakarra looked a man out of form, in truth right up the 12 over mark, as his timing was not quite there along with some poor footwork. The fact that he flew from 17 from 23 balls to 82 from 52 shows that all a player needs to do to get their form back is find a couple of boundaries and the middle of that bat. From seemingly nowhere he was picking gaps in the field, playing cheeky flicks and clearing the boundary with ease, single handedly hitting the 19th over for 25 runs. The relief at reaching 50 and finally making an impact was clear from his celebrations and Deccan will be hoping he kicks on from here, he'll need to if they're to salvage anything from this season.
Wayne Parnell - 4-1-25-1
Parnell is battling his compatriot Alfonso Thomas for that overseas spot and will probably earn himself another game or 2 based on this performance. His first over was near immaculate as Dhawan could only nudge the ball to fielders for a maiden in which Parnell hit speeds into the high 140s. On top of that he produced a cracking 20th over to just about keep Pune in the match, it went for just 6 runs as well as the wicket of White and had many more came from it would have been game over. Its tough to choose between the experienced, canny Thomas and the pacy left armer so it'll be interesting to see which way the selectors go, I certainly struggle to choose between them! Kumar also deserves a mention with 4-0-22-1 as he bowled wicket to wicket and gave little away, a good performance from the promising youngster.
Michael Clarke - 41 from 31 balls
The 31 year old Australian captain made his IPL debut in this game, as well as it being his first 20/20 appearance since 2010, an incredible stat given some of his strokeplay today. He looked a good fit at the top of the Pune order, yet another in the battle for just 2 places, as he is a natural timer of the ball able to hit boundaries without having to over-hit the ball, he used the pace of Steyn expertly in the 6th over to pick up some 4s. His partnership with Ganguly kept Pune in the game but he fell to some really poor running between the wickets following a dropped catch, you have to say a run-out is always on the cards when Ganguly is at the crease. A promising return for Clarke who looks a good player for PWI, the only issue being where to bat him and others when he is up against Ganguly, Pandey, Uthappa, Wright, Iqbal and Ryder for that top order position.
I'm going to boldly go for my best Pune XI, something I've been trying to come up with for weeks now!
1. Ryder 2. Pandey 3. Ganguly 4. Clarke 5. Uthappa 6. Smith 7. Manhas 8. Parnell (just!) 9. Kumar/Karthik depending on wicket 10. Sharma 11. Dinda when fit
I think the issues that face them at the moment are how to use Ganguly and that 5th bowling option. Ganguly's S/R has been a worry so far and he tends to stall the momentum of the innings. I certainly woudln't drop him but he needs to up keep the board ticking over, currently taking up too many dot balls. Equally, Samuels, Ganguly and Nehra, who has been really disappointing thus far considering his experience, were really expensive today and that 2nd death bowler alongside Parnell/Thomas is proving tough to find, PWI desperately need Dinda back from injury. Smith continues to play the finishing role well (47* from 27) and I think that's where he'll be at his best, he is consistently being left with too much to do by the top order who are yet to fire on a regular basis.
Still, I've now bought my Pune shirt and I'd imagine this will turn round their fortunes! Well played Deccan who were the better side in both contests. With nothing to lose I can't imagine any side will be keen to face them.
Rajasthan vs Delhi
Rahul Dravid - 57 from 43 balls
A great effort from 'The Wall' who was unfortunate today in that wickets constantly fell around him. He and Rahane continued their form as the most prolific opening partnership of this year, but when the latter fell to leave them at 71/1, it all crumbled around Dravid. He played at this fluent best, picking the gaps in the field to perfection, particularly in the powerplay overs. He eventually fell trying to hit out in the last couple of overs as his side capitulated to 141/6, well below par having started strongly. If only someone had stayed with him, he'd managed to bat out the innings at a very healthy S/R of 132.5 and all it needed was a big hitting innings at the other end and RR would have made over 160 and challenged Delhi.
Pawan Negi - 4-0-18-4 & MoM
The man responsible for Rajasthan's collapse was the left arm spinner (yet another!) Pawan Negi. Not a big turner of the ball, as is often the case with 20/20 slow left armers, but bowled immaculate lines and lengths to send down 13 dot balls. His first was Rahane, attempting a needless reverse sweep, before getting the crucial wicket of Shane Watson, bowled when trying a hoick across the line on his 2012 IPL debut, Negi's reward for his discipline. In Negi and Nadeem, Delhi seem to have found a decent couple of spinners, adept at tying down the opposition and building pressure and that is of great value in this format. A top showing from Negi who deservedly took the MoM award.
Virender Sehwag - 73 from 38 balls
Once again, the Delhi skipper's remarkable consistency continues as he picked up his 5th successive half century, this time at an outrageous S/R of 192! Its hard to do his batting justice, everything he does just seems so easy and effortless with the bowler never given the chance to build up some dot balls and settle down, shown by the fact that over 34% of the deliveries he faced today were hit to the boundary or over it. He made a mockery of Rajasthan's total and the chase was all too easy for him. So long as he keeps hitting the ball as he is, Delhi will be near impossible to stop, currently sitting a few points clear at the top of the league.
No comments:
Post a Comment